Durban — KZN Human Settlements and Public Works MEC Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba visited Transnet’s Montclair Lodge for an inspection-in-loco on Wednesday.
This came after the building was invaded by some of the flood victims who were placed in Yellowwood Park Civic Centre and Tehuis Hostel in uMlaza.
The flood victims who had occupied the building were forcefully evicted at the beginning of this month after staying there for two weeks.
The flood victims were taken by Umsinsi WokuZimilela The Native Movement (Umsinsi) to occupy the Montclair Lodge illegally.
The movement had been fighting for flood victims placed in shelters and community halls to be housed in empty buildings in the city since they were not currently unoccupied, while the flood victims continued to live under harsh and unhygienic conditions in the halls.
The state-owned Rail Freight Logistics entity then resorted to the KwaZulu-Natal High Court sitting in Durban to get an eviction order to remove the flood victims from the building.
The housing establishment has been reserved for possible use to temporarily house flood victims while waiting for permanent houses.
Mahlaba said at least 136 rooms were ready to be occupied; they just needed to sign an agreement with Transnet to formalise matters.
He said he was satisfied with the Montclair facility because it was conducive to humanitarian resettling of floods victims as it had a laundry room, gym, kitchen and dining facilities.
“Our main aim is to move people from mass centres like halls and churches so that they can have some sense of privacy and live in dignified residences,” he said.
Mahlaba said that in the next 4-6 months the plan was to provide permanent structures for the flood victims.
He said the department did not want the victims to have uncertainty as they knew that some had children who had to stop going to school because of what happened.
In a media statement Transnet said: “Transnet Property has reached an agreement with the Department of Human Settlements regarding housing displaced people at the Montclair Lodge in Durban.
“The department will prioritise women, children and people with disabilities, and will take full responsibility of the management of the lodge and its related costs.
“Transnet welcomes the agreement, which favours all parties, and ensures that members of the community are accommodated.”
Daily News